Car-ventilator



v(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. DALY. GAR VENTILATOR.

No. 575,704. Patented Jan. 26, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. M. DALY. OAR VENTILATOR.

Patented Jan 26,

No. 575,704. 32 F 7 ruz' Noams PETiBS cu, morn-1.11%.. WAQHINGTOVL a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. DALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-VENTILATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,704, dated January26, 1897.

Application filed septemher 11,1896. Serial No. 605,464. (No modeLl andfruit-cars, in which the air for ventilating the car is admitted at thetop or near the top at or near each end and is forced through the car bythe draft occasioned by its movement, the ends of the car being providedwith deflectors or traps which catch the air as the car moves and causesit to descend into the body of the car and thence pass out through thetrap or opening at the other end, the lower part of the car beingprovided with a false bottom, usually composed of slats, under which theair is supposed to descend and thence rise through the fruit or otherfreight resting thereon. One of the great defects of a ventilator ofthis description is that the air in entering the car only partiallydescends into the body thereof, and hence escapes at the other endwithout having descended into and permeated the goods with which the caris freighted. Another objection is that when the car is standing ormotionless the dead air and heat rising from such freight as fruit,

. &c., collect under the roof and there stagnate Without freely escapingand drawing in sufficient air, as is necessary for the thoroughventilation of the freight.

My invention therefore has for its primary object to provide simplemeans whereby the air upon entering the car will be forced or carrieddown to and through the freight, thoroughly ventilating the same top andbot tom before rising and escaping at the other end.

Another object of myinvention is to divide the current of air enteringthe car into separate currents for respectively carrying off the deadair lodging under the roof and for entering the space below the falsebottom and permeating the lower portion of the freight, and in additionto provide a separate and independent current for entering the body ofthe car above the freight or between the other two currents andsiphoning and drawing off the warm air and gases rising in the car andalso impinging directly against and refrigerating the upper portion ofthe freight.

Still another object of my invention is to make the end channels orpassages of the car for carrying the air downward to the false bottomremovable, whereby an ordinary iceboX may be placed in their stead, whendesired; and a still further object of my invention is to utilize aportion of the ordinary ice-box interchangeably for the said iceboX andform a part of the wall of the said end channels or passages.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of partswhereby the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearingare accomplished, all as will now be fully described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of afreight-car provided with my improved ventilator. Fig. 2 isa plan viewthereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectiontakenon the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on theline a 4:, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of one cornerof the car, showing the trap open for admitting air; and Fig. 6 is avertical longitudinal section of a refrigerator-car, illustrating themanner of constructing the ice-box, whereby the same may be removed anda portion thereof utilized for constituting the end air-passages in myinvention.

1 represents the usual outer wooden wall of the car-body, which, ifdesired, maybe lined, as usual, with a false wall 2 and bottom 3, thespace between the walls 1 and 2 and between the real and false bottomsbeing filled with any suitable insulation 4 in the ordinary manner. Eachend of the car is provided with two openings 5 6, one of which at eachend is preferably arranged on one side of the running-board 7, and eachof these openings, at its inner end or side or end remote from the outerend of the car, is provided with an upwardly-inclined deflector or trap8, hinged to the roof of the car, as shown, so that when the car movesforward the air will be forced in under the trap 8 through the openings5 at one end and will enter the car and escape through the openings 6 atthe other end.

Arranged at each end of the car, and preferably extending from side toside thereof, is a passage 9, which is composed of a removable wall orplate 10, whose upper end terminates in the openings 5 6 at each end ofthe car, and is so disposed as to extend across such openings 5 (j, andthus divide the air entering the car through these openings into twocurrents, one current passing down between the plate 10 and the end ofthe car and the other passing over the plate 10 into the main body ofthe car. This passage 9 leads downwardly at each end of the car to theairspace 11 under the false bottom 12, which latter is composed of askeleton frame or number of slats, as usual, and hence it will be seenthat as the car moves forward the currents of air, striking the underside of the trap or deflector S, will be deflected downwardly throughthe opening 5 or 6 and directed to the air-space 11, whence it will risethrough the slats 12 and permeate the plate resting thereon. In orderthat the current caught by the deflector 8 may be better entrapped andconveyed downwardly to the space 11, the upper end of the plate 10 iscurved from the opening 5 rearwardly into the car and then carriedtoward the end of the car, so as to avoid abruptly arresting the currentof air, but to first catch it and then gradually change its course fromthe horizontal to the perpendicular.

The plate 10 is supported transversely in the car-body by means of atransverse rod or bar 13, having flanges 11 removably secured to thewalls of the car, while the lower edge of the plate rests upon the upperend of the wall 15, which constitutes the lower end of the passage 9 andto which the plate 10 is secured in any suitable manner, but preferablyby providing the plate 10 with a flange it, through which screws orother suitable devices 17 are driven into the upper edge of the wall 15.The inner side of the wall is provided with a number of vertical ribs18, which rest against the end wall 2 of the car, and thus prevent heavyfreight that might be thrown against the wall 15 from crushing such wallin and destroying the air-passage t). The lower ends of these ribs 18are extended below the wall 15, so as to be inserted between the endslat 12 of the false bottom and the wall 2, and thus serve for holdingthe lower end of the wall 15 in place. The plate 10 is preferablyconstructed of thin sheet metal, and it may be retained in shape byupright ribs 1!), curved to conform to the plate 10 and having theirlower ends turned outwardly to form feet like the flanges 16, which aresecured to the upper edge of the wall 15. This wall 15, whichconstitutes the lower portion of the passage fhis a part of the ice-boxof an ordinary refrigeratoncar, as shown in Fig. 6, the portion 15 ofthe wall of the icebox being secured to the upper portion 20 by means ofcleats 21 or other suitable devices, and the entire wall 15 20 beingconstructed in any suitable manner, so as to be removed when it isdesired to provide the car with my improved ventilator.

In order that the current of air entering the car through the openings 5or b may be more positively divided into two currents, one entering thepassage 9 and the other the main body of the car and without interferingwith the closing of the trap 8, when desired, I provide the upper edgeof the plate 1O,i1nmediately under each. of the openings 5 (3, with asliding deflector 22, whose upper edge is secured by a chain 23 orothersuitable device to the under side of the trap 8, so that when thelatter is opened the deflector 22 will be raised and projected upwardlythrough the opening 5 or (3, and when the trap is lowered such deflectorwill slide by gravity into the car out of the way of the trap, thedeflector 22 being held on the side of the plate 10 by suitable flanges2%, as will be understood.

In order, however, that the dead air rising in the car, and whichusually collects under the roof thereof, may be carried oil. and suctionproduced for drawing off the hot air in the body of the freight, Iprovide for a third current extending along under the roof and whichalso receives air through the passage 5 or 6, according to the directionin which the car is running. This third passage is shown at 24: and itis constituted by an apertured roof 25 or a roof composed of a number ofslats, which constitute the lower side of the space 2-1, while the upperside is preferably constituted by a false roof 26, located below themain roof 27. This space 24 extends from end to end of the car, and theend of the roof 25 at each of the openings 5 0 is provided with adeflector 28, which projects upwardly into the space between the plate10 and the inner edge of the opening 5, so as to catch a portion of theair and direct it into the space 24. Thus it will be seen that as thecar moves forward the air entering the opening 5 or U will be dividedinto three currents, one passing directly under the roof, the otherunder the floor, and the third striking downwardly into the body of thecar and cooling the upper part of the freight.

In order that the dead air, which usually collects under the roof of thecar and ordinarily remains therein, may readily pass out through theopenings 5 6 while the car is at rest, the air-space 24 is inclinedtoward at least one, but preferably both, ends of the car, so that theair risingat all points throughout the length of the car will, whenstriking the upwardly-inclined roof 26, have a tendency to continue onout through one or the other of the openings 5 or 6, and thus at alltimes draw off the hot air and fumes rising from the freight. By thismeans the interior of the car and all portions of the freight thereinmay be quickly and thoroughly ventilated and the degree of refrigerationor ventilation readily controlled by. regulating the degree of openingof the trap 8, so as to admit more or less air, as the occasionrequires. In order that the trap 8 may be conveniently held at anydesired degree of opening, it is provided with a rack-bar 29, which isengaged by a pawl 30, the lower end of the rack-bar, if desired, beingprovided with a catch 31 to prevent the trap 8 from being thrownentirely open and thus injuring the sliding deflector 22-or permittingthe trap being carelessly placed in such position as to prevent it fromdirecting the air into the car. As more'clearly shown in Fig. 5, thetrap 8 is provided with a surrounding screen 32 to prevent the admissionof cinders and dirt to the interior of the car, the screen 32 being ofsegmental form and secured to the trap, so as to follow it upwardly, butwithout entirely emerging from the opening 5 or 6.

If desired, for the sake of sealing the open ings 5 or 6 morehermetically a supplemental trap-door 33 may be arranged over the trap8, whereby the openings 5 or 6 may be hermetically sealed when the caris used as a refrigerator-car. This door 33 is hinged to a surroundingframe 34, into which the door is battened when closed over the trap S.

Arranged under the slats 12 constituting the false bottom of the car isa numberof deflectors 35, which are inclined upwardly at each end, so asto deflect the horizontal current of air upwardly between the slats 12.These deflectors, if desired, may be arranged at suitable intervals ordisposed here and there throughout the length and breadth of thecar-floor, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

, sage, and means for trapping the air and directing it into saidair-passages, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-ventilator the combination of the car having a false roofand a false floor, an air-inlet near the roof and end thereof and meansfor dividing the air entering said inlet into three separate currentsone passing above said false roof, one entering the body of the car andthe third passing along under the false floor of the car, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet atits upper portion, a false roof provided with openings and forming anair-space a false floor having openings and-forming an air-space, and apassage leading down the end of the car to said false floor, and meansfor directing the air from said inlet into said passage and air-spaces,substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-ventilator, the combination with a car having an opening inor near the roof thereof at each end, a false roof forming an. air-spaceextending from the opening at one end to the opening at the other end ofthe car, a false floor, an air-passage leading downwardly at each end ofthe car from each of said openings to said false floor, and means fordirecting the air through said openings and into said air-space andpassages, substantially as set forth.

5. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an opening in ornear the roof at each end thereof, a false roof forming an airspaceextending from said opening at one end of-the car to the opening at theother end thereof, a partition or wall dividing the said opening at eachend of the car and forming with said false roof three separate passagesfor the air, and a false floor forming an airspace having acommunicating passage with said opening at each end of the car,substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an opening ateach end near the upper end thereof, a false roof forming an air-spaceextending from the opening at one end of the car to the opening at theother end, an air-passage leading downwardly from the opening at eachend of the car, a false fioor forming an air-space communicating at eachend with one of said downwardly-extending air-passages and means fordirecting the air into said air space and passages, thedownwardly-extending air-passage at each end of the car beinglocated ata distance from the end of the air-passage under the roof whereby athird passage or current leading down into the interior of the car isformed, substantially as set forth.

7. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet atthe end and upper part thereof, air-passages extending lengthwise of thecar and adjacent to the roof and floor respectively and havingcommunication throughout their length with the interior of the car, apartition or wall projecting across said opening and extendingdownwardly to the passage at the lower side of the car, said passageunder the roof having its mouth arranged adjacent to said openingwhereby air entering said opening will be divided into separate currentsentering said passages respectively, substantially as set forth.

8. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet atthe end and upper part thereof, air-passages extending lengthwise of thecar and adjacent to the roof and iloor respectively, and having communication throughout their length wit-h the interior of the car, apartition or wall projecting across said opening and extendingdownwardly to the passage adjacent to the floor, said passage under theroof having its mouth arranged adjacent to said air-inlet and saidpartition or wall being bowed or bent inwardly toward the center of thecar and having its lower end carried outwardly toward the adjacent endof the car, whereby the air entering said inlet will be divided intoseparate currents entering said passages respectively, substantially asset forth.

9. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet atthe end and upper part thereof, air-passages extending lengthwise of thecar and adjacent to the roof and floor respectively and havingcommunication throughout their length with the interior of the car, apartition or wall projecting across said air-inlet and extendingdownwardly to the passage adjacent to the floor, said passage adjacentto the roof having its mouth arranged contiguous to said air-inlet butat a distance from said partition whereby a third passage is formed foradmitting air to the body of the car, substantially as set forth.

10. I11 a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inletat the end and up per part thereof, airpassages extending lengthwise ofthe car and adjacent to the roof and floor respectively and havingcommunication throughout their length with the interior of the car, apartition projecting across said air-inlet and extending downwardly tothe passage adjacent to the floor, said passage adjacent to the roofhaving its mouth arranged contiguous to said inlet but at a distancefrom said partition, and a deflector 28 arranged between its said mouthand said partition, substantially as set forth.

11. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet atthe end and upper part thereof, the upwardlydnclined trap b for trappingthe air and forcing it into the said inlet, air-passages extending intothe ear and having their ends arranged adjacent to said air-inlet, anadjustable deflector for diupwardly into said air-inlet for directingthe air into one of said passages, the hinged trap for trapping the airand forcing it into said inlet, and an operative connection between saidtrap and deflector whereby the deflector will be automatically raisedwith the trap, substantially as set forth.

13. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet ator near the top thereof, andaremovable partition 10 extending acrosssaid inlet and projecting downwardly int-o the car, substantially as setforth.

14. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an air-inlet inits top or roof, the removable partition 10 extending across said inletand projecting downwardly into the car, the wall 15 detachably securedto said partition and being removably secured in the car and having theribs 18 supported against the end of the ear, substantially as setforth.

15. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having an a-ir-inletat each end thereof, an air-passage extending under and adjacent to theroof of the car and communicating at its opposite ends with said inletsrespectively and being downwardly inclined toward the mid-length of thecar and having communication throughout'its length with the interior ofthe car, substantially as set forth.

16. In a car-ventilator, the combination of a car having a slatted falsebottom, a number of deflectors secured to the under side of said bottomfor directing the air upwardly into the car, and means for forcing anair-current under said false bottom, substantially as set forth.

JOHN M. DALY.

\Vitnesses:

EDNA B. J oHNsoN, F. A. HOPKINS.

